Combined chair and life-preserver



(No Model.)

I. S. ALLEN. COMBINED CHAIR AND LIFE PRESERV ER.

No. 462,291. Patented Nov. 3, 1891.

IRA S. ALLEN, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

COMBINED CHAIR AND LIFE-PRESERVER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 462,291, dated November3, 1891.

Application filed June 24, 1891. $erial No.397,287. (N model.)

I To all whom Lt nut/y concern.-

Be it known that LIRA S. ALLEN, a citizen of the United States, residingat Detroit, in the county of \Vayne and State of Michigan, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Combined Chairs andLife-Preservers; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, referencebeing had to the accompany ing drawings, and to the letters and figuresof reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to a combined chair and life-preserver especiallydesigned for use on boats; and it consists in a certain construction andarrangement of parts, as hereinafter fully set forth, the essentialfeatures of which being pointed out particularly in the claims.

The object of the invention is to provide means that will afford a lightand portable chair and one that in case of accident may be readilyemployed as a life-preserver. This object is attained by theconstruction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure lis a perspective view of my improved device. Fig. 2 is a centraltransverse section with the seat and back removed. Fig. is a plan viewalso with the seat and back removed. plication of the device as alife-preservcr and the position of parts when adjusted to a person.

Referring to the letters and figures of reference, A designates the sideframes of the base or body portion of the chair, upon the outer face ofwhich a thin panel B is secured, all of said parts being formed of lightwood. The side frames A of the chair are connected by the front and rearcross-pieces G and are provided with the capping-pieces I), (see Fig.2,) having curved inner edges 4, forming a cen' tral annular opening Etherethrough, as shown in Fig. 8. The straight portion of the inneredges of said capping-pieces D do not meet, but are connected by theflexible straps I). These side frames A of the body of the chair areentirely covered with rubber cloth F or other suitable coveringimpervious to water,

Fig. a is a view showing the 8L1).

said rubber on the inner face of said frames being drawn from the bottomthereof to the inner edges of the capping-pieces D, forming anair-chamber I-I between said rubber cloth and the inner face of thepanel B of the frames, as shown in Fig. 2, whereby the bodyof frame ofthe chair is rendered buoyant and the wood-work thereof is protectedfrom moisture. Located across the inner face Of the side frames A, atthe bottom thereof, is a shield cl, that prevents the rubber coveringbeing broken in at that point.

I designates the seat of the chair, to which the back K is attached.Said seat is detachably secured to the top of the body portion of thechair by means of the straps a, adapted to engage the pins or buttons 0,secured in the side panels B thereof. The depending flange or shoulder dat the front edge of said seat embraces the top portion of the body ofthe chair, and the depending rear ends 6 of the uprights h of the backpass between the projecting points i of the sides B at the rear, wherebythe seat and back are securely retained in place.

To employ this improved device as a lifepreserver, the seat and back areremoved by disengaging the straps to from the pins 0. The body of thechair is then placed over the head of the person, the head passingthrough the central opening E in the top thereof, the arms passingthrough the openings above the crosspieces 0, and the flexible straps bat the front and rear of the chair-body resting upon the shoulders, asshown in Fig. 4:, by means of which the apparatus is securely attachedto the person, permitting the free use of the arms and having sufficientbuoyancy to support the head above the water.

This improved device serves the double purpose of a chair andlife-preserver without occupying any more space on the boat than theordinary chair, and may be readily and quick- 1 y employed as alife-preserver when desired.

\Vhile I have shown and described the airspace in the frame of theehair,I do not wish to limit myself to this construction to effect thebuoyancy of the chair-frame, as cork or like substance maybe used withinthe frame of the chair for this purpose without depart ing from thespirit of my invention.

chambers, the seat and back detachably mounted on said frame,substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. The combination, with a buoyant chairframe having means of attachmentto the body of a person, of the seat and back detachably coupledthereto, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

IRA S. ALLEN. WVitnesses-z E. S. WHEELER, R. B. WHEELER.

